"The public has never had any concept of who I am, they see the cars and the plane" - When Andre Agassi opened up on the 'scary' way he was judged
Andre Agassi once opened up about the public's misguided perception of his life, lamenting that they only focused on the flashier aspects. The American emphasized that there was much more to him than the image of the luxury he projected.
Agassi reached new heights in his illustrious career in the mid-1990s, triumphing at the 1994 US Open and the 1995 Australian Open while trailing closely behind Pete Sampras as the World No. 2. The American also saw success off the court, signing a lucrative 10-year contract with Nike, estimated to be worth $100 million.
Known earlier for his flamboyant image, Andre Agassi was frequently seen flaunting his 10-seat JetStar and his impressive car collection, which included a Humvee, a Dodge Viper, an Infiniti, and a couple of Porsches. However, during this time, he began distancing himself from his flashy lifestyle, selling some of his luxury cars and avoiding photographs with his private jet.
Agassi further shifted away from this persona by getting rid of his signature blonde mullet and cutting off his hair, with the support of his then-girlfriend, actress Brooke Shields. Although the American explained that he decided because his hair was "thinning," the public believed that the bold move was a publicity stunt or a marketing ploy by one of his sponsors.
In a 1995 interview with Sports Illustrated, Andre Agassi expressed his frustration with how he was perceived by the public, lamenting that people didn't see beyond his cars and private jet. The American emphasized that it was "scary" to be judged that way when he simply wanted to be seen for who he was.
"I think the public has never had any concept of who I am. They see the cars and the plane, and if they don't try, they stop there. It's scary to be defined and judged that way. When that's the case, you just want to be seen for who you are," Agassi said.
Andre Agassi on his public perception: "I was called a punk, I was destroying the game of tennis"
Early in his career, Andre Agassi faced criticism for his flamboyant fashion choices and bold personality, particularly when he donned jean shorts along with his memorable blonde mullet at the 1988 US Open.
In a 2024 interview with Vogue, the former World No. 1 disclosed that he was branded a punk and accused of "destroying" tennis, even though he was simply being himself.
"Oh my God. In 1988 I was called a punk—I was destroying the game of tennis. I mean, what they call destroying it I called broadening the tent—but whatever. I just was being me, and I was always honest about how I felt about the game," Agassi said.
However, Andre Agassi could take solace in the knowledge that his wife, fellow tennis legend Steffi Graf, loved his innovative denim jorts look and that Serena Williams was also inspired by his style.